Cobra Salt Flat Racer

[Tom Kirkham]

On page 66 of the Jan 2008 issue of Hot Rod Magazine there is a picture of a 289 Cobra running E/SR "back in the day." The car is running number 289, however the E class break is a max cid of 260. I am guessing that S means sport and R = racing. I do not believe the class is still current.

Some more clues:
It is an early no side vents car
Looks like it is running an FIA style exhaust
unique roll bar.
unique air screen
It is also running bullet style headlight covers with an anteater style radiator shroud.

Does anyone know more about it? CSX number?
I know that one of the Daytona Coupes ran at Bonneville were their any other Cobras that ran on the salt?

Thanks

[289ACE]

Tom,
It sounds like you are Describing Ak Miller's AC Ace that he ran at Bonneville and he set a record with. Are you sure the car does not have the mustaches? If the car you are looking at is Ak's, I have found some more info that leads me to believe this car later became the Devin bodied Cobra that Ak ran at Pikes Peak. I'll check for some pics I have on the Ak Ace and see if it was number 289, but I think it was.
Jay

[Tom Kirkham]

It is possible that it might have a mustache. Here is a pic of a very similar car, different color, however the number and roll bar are the same.

http://www.ppihc.com/detail.aspx?cat...6photomode%3D3

[computerworks]

Motor Trend, Dec. 1963

This issue of Motor Trend features the Bonneville Speed Week and there is a picture of Ak Millers E-Ford Racing Sports 260 Cobra with an unusual conical air intake and headlight fairings. Miller hit 171.562 MPH which set a record!

(from Art G.'s bibliography list)

[Tom Kirkham]

On this web site: http://ahrf.com/search.php?keyword=miller I found the following question:

Question
Hi, I am trying to find any information regarding the Ac Ace that Ak Miller used to set an E sports class LSR in 1963 at Bonneville. I have an Ace that looks similar in many regards, and am wondering if it could be the same car. Does anyone remember anything about the car (including the exterior color) or have any pics of it? I have recently seen a pic of Ak's car in the Rodder's Journal, but that is all have been able to find so far. Thanks, Jay Peterson...

[289ACE]

Funny how things come around. That is my question as I thought for awhile that my Ace might have been Ak's and that is why I researched it a bit. In the end I found a letter from Ak to the AC owner's club that said his car was originally one of the Sebring cars and by the time Ak was getting ready to run it at Bonneville about the only things that were left that was original was the body and the 3"main tubes. He also said (if my memory is correct) he was getting ready to remove the body and replace it with a devin body to run at Pikes peak. I did go back and check my photo of Ak's car and it was #289 and while it has wide rear fender flares, the front has no Cobra flares. If you are interested I can probably find the Ak letter and forward it to you.
Jay

[Mark IV]

The ACOC newletter a while back re-printed a letter from Ak circa 1965 about his Ace. His Ace had a 1962 Ford Fairlane front suspension grafted on (very much like an early Mustang), used a Morris Minor rack and pinion (he was very displeased with AC's use of the Cam Gear worm and sector) and a Corvette T10 gearbox and radiator.

I would think the modifications woud be quite apparent compared to a "normal" Ace.

Rick

[Tom Kirkham]

Could you post the letter?

[289ACE]

That was the letter I also saw and was referring to, but I think that particular Ace ceased to exist and became a Devin at some point, or maybe just a backyard special that has disappeared. Another interesting thing I found about the car; when I was searching for history on the car, I called Ak's garage that is still open in Whittier, Cal. I talked with one of the guys who worked with Ak back in the '60s, (Jack Lufkin) and he said Ak had a V8 in that Ace well before Shelby was doing it. He was not sure of the exact time frame but was sure Ak had beaten Shelby to the punch.
Edit- Tom, just saw your post after making mine. I'll look for my copy of the letter (mine was a copy of a copy) but if Rick has one it will probably be a better copy.
Jay

[Excaliber]

No doubt a lot of people put V8's in smallish cars over the years, well before Shelby. No doubt several people 'invented' various cars and motors before Henry Ford.

And yet, Shelby really figured it out, so did Ford!

[What'saCobra?]

To arms! To arms!

A truth has been told and we must all raise our skirts and hustle to the ramparts and arrange Shelby's defence!

With kind regards, it is interesting how a simple story about Miller brings out a Shelby defence, as if Shelby's own remarkable accomplishments do not suffice.

Miller's very notable race records include lots of amazing engineering feats for his day. Is it possible to recall those without being wounded?

Note how the captions on the Pikes Peak site call his cars "Cobras". Were they really?

With respect, perhaps we should further discuss whether Miller's Devin was "real"?

[289ACE]

Uh-Oh, now you've opened a few cans of worms with real cobra and devin questions. We'll have to see where this goes....
Tom,
I have attached a copy of Ak's Ace from the front so you can see if this is the same car you were asking about. This Pic was originally published in a 1969 Hot Rod and then republished in the AC owner's club newsletter in 1991. I found my copy of the letter and will scan later, but am having some computer problems so it may take me a while
Jay

[Tom Kirkham]

289ACE

Thank you so much for the picture. That is the car in the Jan 08 issue of Hot Rod. It sure looks like in your pic that the car has a mustache...

[1ntCobra]

Originally Posted by Tom Kirkham

289ACE

Thank you so much for the picture. That is the car in the Jan 08 issue of Hot Rod. It sure looks like in your pic that the car has a mustache...

That car not only has a mustache, but it's sticking out its tongue as well.

Tom, do you think you will be offering the mustache and tongue options on your small block cars?

[Mark IV]

Tom,

Forward me a fax number and I will fax you the letter. My scanner is DOA so I can't post it here. Perhaps the estimable Mr. T Legate, Esq. has a copy to post?

Rick

[imagine2frolic]

Head lights look like the bumper off of my 57 GMC 100

[Tom Kirkham]

MKIV,

My fax number is 801-377-8254

1ntCobra asked:
do you think you will be offering the mustache and tongue options...?

Mustache maybe, tongue only if prepaid and no refund option

[289ACE]

Tom,
I think I am back on line with my computer (haven't tried a scan yet, but everything else is working) so if you still need a copy of the letter, let me know.
Jay